Home appliance, control device thereof, and method of assembling the control device

Abstract

A home appliance includes a controlled assembly, a control module, and a signal converter. The control module is electrically connected to the controlled assembly, and the control module has a port for receiving an electrical signal. The control module controls the controlled assembly according to the electrical signal received through the port. The signal converter receives a wireless control signal, and converts the wireless control signal into the electrical signal to be transmitted to the port. The signal converter is selected from a plurality of signal converters which respectively convert signals of different types. While assembling, the signal converter is connected to the port, which makes the control module and the connected signal converter constitute a control device of the home appliance. Whereby, the inventory pressure of control devices can be reduced for manufacturers.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A control device controlling at least one controlled assembly of a home appliance, the control device comprising:
 a control module electrically connected to the at least one controlled assembly; 
 the control module having a port for receiving an electrical signal; 
 the control module controlling the at least one controlled assembly to perform a corresponding operation according the received electrical signal; 
 a plurality of signal converters provided for receiving different wireless control signals and having connection interfaces of same structure; 
 one of the signal converters being detachably connected to the port; 
 the signal converter which is connected to the port converting the wireless control signal into the electrical signal which is transmitted to the port; 
 each of the signal converters further comprising a receiving circuit and a converting circuit; 
 the receiving circuit, the converting circuit and the connection interface being electrically connected in series; 
 the receiving circuit of the signal converter which is connected to the port receiving the wireless control signal; 
 the converting circuit of the signal converter which is connected to the port converting the wireless control signal received by the receiving circuit into the electrical signal and transmitting the electrical signal to the connection interface of the signal converter which is connected to the port; and 
 the connection interface of the signal converter which is connected to the port being electrically connected to the port. 
 
     
     
       2. A home appliance comprising:
 at least one controlled assembly; 
 a control module electrically connected to the at least one controlled assembly; 
 the control module having a port for receiving an electrical signal; 
 the control module controlling the at least one controlled assembly to perform a corresponding operation according the received electrical signal; 
 a plurality of signal converters provided for receiving different wireless control signals and having connection interfaces of same structure; 
 one of the signal converters being detachably connected to the port; 
 the signal converter which is connected to the port converting the wireless control signal into the electrical signal which is transmitted to the port; 
 each of the signal converters further comprising a receiving circuit and a converting circuit; 
 the receiving circuit, the converting circuit and the connection interface being electrically connected in series; 
 the receiving circuit of the signal converter which is connected to the port receiving the wireless control signal; 
 the converting circuit of the signal converter which is connected to the port converting the wireless control signal received by the receiving circuit into the electrical signal and transmitting the electrical signal to the connection interface of the signal converter which is connected to the port; and 
 the connection interface of the signal converter which is connected to the port being electrically connected to the port. 
 
     
     
       3. A method of assembling a control device of a home appliance, the home appliance comprising at least one controlled assembly, the at least one controlled assembly being controllable to perform specific operations, the method comprising the steps of:
 electrically connecting a control module to the at least one controlled assembly; 
 the control module having a port for receiving an electrical signal; 
 the control module controlling the at least one controlled assembly to perform a corresponding operation according the received electrical signal; 
 providing a plurality of signal converters for converting a wireless control signal of different types into the electrical signal; 
 the plurality of signal converters having connection interfaces of same structure; 
 the connection interface of each of the signal converters being for connecting to the port of the control module; 
 choosing one of the signal converters and connecting the chosen signal converter to the port; 
 the control module and the connected signal converter constituting the control device; 
 each of the signal converters further comprising a receiving circuit and a converting circuit; 
 the receiving circuit, the converting circuit and the connection interface being electrically connected in series; 
 the receiving circuit of the signal converter which is connected to the port receiving the wireless control signal; 
 the converting circuit of the signal converter which is connected to the port converting the wireless control signal received by the receiving circuit into the electrical signal and transmitting the electrical signal to the connection interface of the signal converter which is connected to the port; and 
 the connection interface of the signal converter which is connected to the port being electrically connected to the port.